Grenade and the like.



w. MILLS. Y GRENADE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1916` ldbeltedApr.4 `24, 1917.

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'WILLIAM MILLS, or BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

GBENAIDE AND THE LIKE.

speeiiicaun of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 191 7.

Application led May 8, 1916. Serial No. 9i 3,137.'l I

l To aZ'Zvwhom it may camera:

Be it "known that I, WILLIAM MiLLs,ja subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain,

"residin at Atlas Aluminium lV'orks, Grove f .street,-

irminghain, in the county of Varwick,England, engineer, have Invented certain new and .useful Improvements in or Relating to Grenades .andthe like, of which the following is-a specification.

This-invention relates to grenades or the like, of the type having a spring impelled hammer or striker which is controlled by a leveror member disposed externally of the grenade, and which lever or member is adapted to be retained inV relation tothe grenade bythe 4hand ordevice grasping or supporting the grenade so that when the latter isthrown or impelled, the external lever Ven -ni'emliier is automatically released to thereby,"` release the striker. According to the resent invention in this type of grenade cloc'iv'ork or likev timing mechanism is so incorporated as to provide that aperiod of time ,'elapses before the eXternal` lever-or meinberf--isffiilly released.

' Thepresent invention further comprises a grenade or the like having a spring im-I pelle'd hammer or striker'which is directly controlled by a lever or member disposed eXte'rnallyof the grenade, and adapted to be released by the hand or projecting appliance 'inthe act Vof throwing to 'explode the the grenade," and in .which clockwork or like timing mechanism is so incorporated as to provide that a pe, riod ottime elapses before the hammercr striker operates. There ockwork mechanism may be-operated bythe spring employed to operate the' striker or hammerof the grenade.

The striker may be adapted to operate upon a percussion cap which may be adapted to iinme diately lire a detonator adapted exploded `practically instantaneonsly upon the striking of the cap by the striker, or a1- 4ternatively, a time fuse may be incorporated between, the percussioncap and the detonator. -vThis lastfmentioned time fuse might, -for instance, provide for the intervention of a period of two seconds between the act of striking the cap and :the act of exploding-the grenade, and to this timing the timing associated. with the striker ma :the striker may be delaye ,for instance, for

ane, two, or three seconds accordingto the renade, so that the latter is be added so that "setting ofthe Jim-ing mechanism pertaining to the striker.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood an( readily carried into practice, reference may be had to the appended eX- pla-natory sheeA of drawings, upon which Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of grenade accord ng to the present invention, aI

.cover-plate bei ig omittedto show the clockywork timing In echanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side 4elevation of the T grenade shown in Fig. 1.'

F1g. 3 1s an inverted lplan o f the grenade I shown'in Figs. l and'2`.

In; a convenient embodiment of the present invention, I may employ a 1ong'itudi-` nally movinv hammer or striker a disposed leo internally Iwith in the grenade, sn'ch longituf.

d inally moving striker or hammer being encircled by a cciled spring b by. whichfit is or hammer bei rig adapted to project out of the body' of tie grenade-.f This outer, ex-v tremity is fur iished with an enlargement, 'l so t but if the lev er is released, the striker a is allowed to o aerate upon the cap 'f or pri-- mary ignition levice under the influence of. the spring b'.

The lever Z is controlled by a clockwork mechanism. For this purpose it is inturned at g, the inturi ed part being furnished With a segmental ra :k h, the are of whiclris coni centric witlitte center e and which rack h is -in mesh with a pinion 'with which pinion i a wheel y' rotates, the pinion 'i and Wheelfj- 'is operated, and )ne end c of the said striker sa of the' grenade, and

grenade, the szrker a is retained thereby,

being inounteo upon a"suitable spindle This wheel j is in meshwith apinion Z with which a wheel m rotates, the pinion Zand ably'incorpora :ed 1 spindle o. The wheel m is 1n mesh with'a pinion p with which a j wheelg-rotatei, the pinion pand -wheel q.

being mounte. upon 4the same s indle [c are mounted. The'wheel g' constitutes thel .wheelm being mounted upon a second s uit- I wheel part of an esca eme; t, tl -pawl part l r 'of Which-is -mo'unte u pon a suitable spindle and adapted to controi the wheelg upon the principle of :an ordinary escalment, the'- member ,rhaving, furthermore, t

e purpose of confining the rotation ofthe Wheelqlnd therefore the 'train of gearin f and moyement .of the member d to thatfm onemdirec tion only, z'. e. the direction permittin of the-movement of the member d away rom the ,body o f the grenade. 'The clockwork mechanism.' is operated' by the effort of the spring b', by Awhich`th a""s`trike'r a is con-v trolled, this effort being imparted successively thronghthe striker, the lever d, and

'the rack h. provided thereon, andl being yfinally controlled or; retarded 'by the escape;`

The external lever-'d is adapted, normally, i. e.' before it is desired to'ns'e' the grenade, to be retained inrelation to the external surface thereof by a pin s or other securing device. This pin s isadaptedto pass through perforations 'in suitable Vparts of the body 'of its vwhich latterl arrangement the grenade, and'also through a perforation t in-the memberfdor inturned vpart gthereof. Vhen it 1 is desired to' throwor' project the grenade, the latter is'l grasped in the hand or lacedin a socket, ring'gor the like pertain lng to, vor provided"v in' connection 4with, the

or retaining devlce is :then Vremove so, that the lever isretained' :in vthe"same'"position as before by' the hand grasping the" g'renade or by the ringer socket ofthe 'throwing device or rifle.' -Vhen the-grenade leaves thehand, throwing device, lor riilefthe external' lever is retained onl-'y by a clockwork or' like mechanism A series 'of thef p erfx'yrations'tl may. be provided in theme'mbe'r d' or 4inturned-:part g thereof,vinto any one of which the pin .s may beinserted. As the pin 8' normally occupies the 'saineposition in lrelation 'to thebody of' the grenade, according. to

the particular Vperfnatnin t "in: 'Whichfthe in slrisfinserted, thefleverd will;either`- be" 1n its position nearest to the body-' oi'i'the some-degree romfthe bedy of the-grenade, ii1

have va smalleroperative movement before it is released by' #the 'c lockwbrk'- mechanism' a "degree Iof athis# movement, varying 4accordperforation t' 'in which" the in @s-"inserted As afresult of "aci ingf to the p'articllar cor ing' to the.particularl perforatibn `t in which-the pin s is 'inser-ted,"' softhe time which is toelapse between the release' of the by the handin the-act of throwing, and' the total release of the lever d by the clockworkfmechanism is set, and the timing of the release of, they striker a subsequently to the throwing or projecting oi' the grenade is. likewise correspondingly set. vBy reason ofthe one-Way character' of the escapement '.vided around the :Stem of-the serews'- *between thejianges'of .the casing an renade to E'vvllieh lsuch fianges `'watts Off-Ahaare secured. Thesen'ashe'rsmay Abe of' vary#v lever g,- r','the pressure of'the'hand in grasping the grenade and the member d cannot, after the pin s has been removed force such meni-4 ber 'd inwardly toward thegrenade ifit has been' set atl a positionaway'fnom the body 'of/the grenade.'`

he 'clockwork mechanism is advantageously self-contained andincorporatedV in a rame or casing, which. 'latter may be l attached to the body Aof 'the grenade. In the arrangement shown, u 'indicates such 'a frame or casing which is adapted.4 to be fastened byscrewszv to the body of thegrenade,

the. Shanks of which screws lv may. pass.

through elongated perfor'ati'onfs l ug inthe frame u so that in assemblin the latter it may be adJusted in order'to p ace the wheel 'i properly in mesh with'the'rack h.- A Gevenplate a: may be provided to inclo'se or sub.-

stantialljy7 lnclose the cloekwo'rkfwithout;

however, obstructing the movement of. the lever d; such member a 'may forinpart of the frame or member u, or may beseparable therefrom.

The invention may if desired be so carried out, that -irrespective'of the provision for varying the timing,'tlie member el is under all. circumstancesl 1n its position nearest to the body ofthe grenade," inw'hieh position it may be infactual Contact with the" said @body-or Witha 'projection thereon, '.so that any extreme pressure of the hand or-pro'- jecting' applianceA tendingto -force the mein-- perien'ced by'the clockwork mechanism. In one method .of provdingforthe variationof the/timingv in such an arrangement,' the' entire yclockwork mechanism may be adjustably mounted in relation to the body offthe grenade sothattheposition of thefpinion 'z' meshing withthe .rack hmay-be adjusted in' an arcfconcentric with such-"rack, 'r'ovision 'I .bein made for e'ieot'ivel fixingt e clock" 'wor mechanism'm its .a justed positionso that according. to: the positioning of the wheel i relation;l to .the rack fh, so will' the timing .be setguponathe -same principie asin the anrangement illustrated.v

Acord'ng to Vonefmethodfof providing for this adjustment, the casing containing the yclo ckv-'fcn k mechanismjis'ofappro jriatesi'ze' to permitof its adjustment Within there# 4''cessprovided for its reception in the grenade body, 'and Washers (not shown) are 'vf 1 and ci the ing thicknesses and adapted to be inter#A chan-ged, one, two, lo r more washers of equalthickness may be used according to the degrec of adjustment required, the elon ated slot 'w' providing for the adjustment o the pinion il in relationto the rack h yas in the embodiment shown. Y

y' is a-self-contained Vwaterproof cartridge ed lseparately fromthe grenade-and may be readily inserted and appropriatelygretained "in position Withinl thegreafle,I as for ini" Vstance by 'a closure plugf. The ercussion cap f may be sup orted'by the casing of the cartridge-Which. atter is s liiiiciently. rigid 'to constitute a resistive anvil oirjsup ort which will permit of the effective explo ing `of the ,percussion cap by the striker d, the cartridge being rigidly retained imposition on the one hand by the plug Band on the 'other hand by' .'engagementof thevrib'or flange around'itsf` i "o or with a directly con trollingjesaid striker, s'aid lever extremity i 4:V with -the end shoulder provided Awithin, -theftube 5' Which is suitably' incorporated -withinthebiody of i is adapted 4to directly'fire t e detonator z ut in lan alternative arrangement the 'car' tridge or other 'firing unit of the grenademay involve -a Bickford cord 'or other time fuse between the percussion `cap f and det-` onator z. l y i Whatv I claim. as my invention and desire to secure by' Letters Patent. is

1. yA grenade or the like `comprisinglin combination a springfinipelled striker, a le- 'ver disposed externally of the grenade for controlling said striker,'said lever being arranged tobe retained in position toliold` said striker by the means-for propelling'the grenade7 and to be automatically released when the y grenade; is' thrown, and timing means for retardi'n lthe movement of said lever lfor a materia -period ()ftiniefollowing immediately afterthe release ofthe le ver from the propelling means.

' 2. A grenade orthe like directly controlling said striker, said lever being arranged to be 'held by the means forpropellingl the renade in'position to hold ating ivith said striker andlever for providing a e-riod of time interniediatethe release of said lever by said` propelling means before the striker operates.

3. A grenade or 'the like comprising in coinbinatioma spring impelled striker, a'lever disposed externally of the' grenade and directly controlling said striker, said lever y, beingarranged to hold said striker, and tim-x j ing mechanism'coperating with said striker V fand lever for providing a period of'tiine intermediate the release of'said lever byfsaid" propelling means before the strilmal giigierates,

ingannol combination, a' sprin 'directly con trollin saidastriker, said lever- 'and lever fifprovidnga-peridof time means before the striker operates.,

. being arranged to hold said striker and timingimechani im coperating- Withsaid 4striker an intermediate `the release of 4thelever by said i comprising in jcombinatiom a spring impelled striker, a l'ever disposed externally-of 4the. grenade anddue to its coperationwith the propelling said timing mechanism bein'gloperated by i the spring 4e mployed. el said striker.

e.. Al grera e orthe li e comprising in 'gfim elled 'striker a lyo the. grenade and lever disposi :d externa im being arranged to old said strikerand time i ing mechani sin coperating withsaid 'striker intermediate fthe release', of the'leverbyl said.'l propelling means before thefstrikeroperates said'tim'ing nie'chanismbeing ca able 'of adjustment whereby the periodV tween the commencement of operation ofthe timing. f mechanism and explodingof the grenade so may bevaried.l l 5. A grer ade orthe like comprising in combination a spring impelled striker, ale# verjdispo'sec' externally ofthe grenade and being arranged to held by vthe means fori?Ii propelling thel grenade in" osition to hold said striker, and'timing mec anism-arrar-.ged i to provide a period of time intermediate the release of` `iaid lever by, said propelling 90 V6. 'A greI` ade or the like. comprising Y.

combination a sprin impelled striker,'-.a lever disposecl externa ly of the grenade and directly con rolling 4said striker, -said lever lever fir providing a period of-time propelling means before the striker oper ates, saidti ning mechanism being capable of adj'ustine nt whereby the period between lthecommencement of operation of the-timing-mechani: Lm and exploding of the grenade Iaybefvaried, said external lever beingv underall'circu instances in -its position nearest tothe body ofthe grenade when the gre'- nade is about to be pro elled, whereby the timing meclan'ism is re ieved from the inj ward pressure exerted by. said external levermeans. 4 -1 y '7. A grenade or-the like comprising in l combination a. sprng impelled striker, alever disposed extern( y of the grenade and directly con :rollingsaid striker, said lever being arranged to hold said striker, and

timing mecianism 'coperating 4with said;4 striker and'ever for providinga periodof time intermediate the release Vof said lever bys'aid propelling means before the striker operates,said timing mechanism rbeing operated by tlii spring employed toimpel said striker, said lever and said-timing mechanism havingan 'interengaging rack and pinio'n respectively. 8. A grenade or the like comprising in combinati-on a: spring impelled striker, a. le-

1e grenade and z?, said lever 13o ver disposed externally ci 'tl directly controlling tiza f:

being arran d .t0 be held by the means for p ro elling t e grenade-dn positonvto hold. Sai striker, timing mechanism coperatng vith'sad Striker and lever for providing a eriod of time intermediate the 'releaseof gaid'lev'er by said propelling means before the striker operates, sind timing mechanism selfv-e(' nts iincd, and a casmgfor saidl mechanism adapted to be adjustebly secured .inreIatiOntDthe-bOd of thelgrenzile.v l 10 In witness whereofl have herennto' setmy hand inthe presence of two witnesses.A

. ARTHUR Home BROWN;

.WILLIAMMlLLsC Y 

